Toyota, GM recalls push US to near-record pace

Associated Press

Associated Press

Published 8:34 pm, Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Problem No. 1: Air bags

Senate Commerce Committee member Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. displays the parts and function of a defective air bag made by Takata of Japan that has been linked to multiple deaths and injuries in cars driven in the U.S. The panel held a hearing Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, in Washington.

Number of vehicles being recalled: Part of 915,000Reason for recall: Faulty torque sensor could lead to loss of power steering while driving.

Ford Escape

Model year being recalled: 2008-2011

Number of vehicles...

Ford Explorer

Model year being recalled: 2011-2013

Number of vehicles being recalled: 196,000Reason for recall: Possible faulty electrical connection in the steering gear.

Ford Explorer

Model year being recalled: 2011-2013

Number of...

Ford Taurus

Model year being recalled: 2008-2014

Number of vehicles being recalled: Not availableReason for recall: License plate lamps could corrode, leading to fire risk.

Photo: Ford, Wieck

Ford Taurus

Model year being recalled: 2008-2014

Number of vehicles...

Chevrolet Aveo LT

Model year being recalled: 2014

Number of vehicles being recalled: 218,000Reason for recall: The daytime running light module in the dashboard center stack can overheat, melt and catch fire.

Photo: Uncredited, AP

Chevrolet Aveo LT

Model year being recalled: 2014

Number of vehicles...

Chevrolet Traverse LTZ, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia

Model year being recalled: 2009-2014

Number of vehicles being recalled: 1,339,355Reason for recall: Thefront safety lap belt cables can fatigue and separate over time. In a
crash, a separated cable could increase the risk of injury to front seat
passengers.

Photo: General Motors

Chevrolet Traverse LTZ, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia

Model year being...

Pontiac G6

Model year being recalled: 2005-2008

Number of vehicles being recalled: 1,339,355 (Combined with Chevrolet Malibu, next slide)Reason for recall: Shift cable can wear out over time, resulting in mismatches of the gear position indicated by the shift lever..

Photo: General Motors

Pontiac G6

Model year being recalled: 2005-2008

Number of vehicles...

Chevrolet Malibu

Model year being recalled: 2004-2008

Number of vehicles being recalled: 1,075,102 (Combined with Pontiac G6, previous slide)Reason for recall: Shift cable can wear out over time, resulting in mismatches of the gear position indicated by the shift lever..

Photo: General Motors

Chevrolet Malibu

Model year being recalled: 2004-2008

Number of...

Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV

Model year being recalled: 2015

Number of vehicles being recalled: 1,402Reason for recall: Insufficiently heated plastic weld that attaches the passenger side air
bag to the instrument panel assembly could result in a partial
deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.

Photo: General Motors

Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV

Model year being recalled:...

Saturn Aura (2 recalls)

Model year being recalled: 2007-08

Number of vehicles being recalled: 60,000

Reason for recall: Faulty shift cable could fracture and cause the transmission lever to show the wrong gear

Model year being recalled: 2008-09

Number of vehicles being recalled: Part of 1.5 million

Reason for recall: Faulty electronic power-steering assist

Photo: HANDOUT

Saturn Aura (2 recalls)

Model year being recalled: 2007-08

Number of...

Mercedes Benz C-Class (C300, C350 and C63 AMG)

Model year being recalled: 2008-2011

Number of vehicles being recalled: 284,000

Reason for recall: Corrosion on a connector can cause the tail, brake or rear turn signal lights to dim or fail

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes Benz C-Class (C300, C350 and C63 AMG)

Model year being...

Ram 1500

Model year being recalled: 2014

Number of vehicles being recalled: 125

Reason for recall: Transmission issue could lead to a rollaway risk

Photo: New York Times

Ram 1500

Model year being recalled: 2014

Number of vehicles being...

Mazda Tribute

Model year being recalled: 2001-04

Number of vehicles being recalled: 109,000

Reason for recall: Frame rust could separate a wheel control arm, resulting in loss of steering control

Big U.S. recalls by General Motors and Toyota have put the auto industry on a record pace as companies try to avoid bad publicity and punishment from an increasingly aggressive government.

On Wednesday, Toyota announced it was recalling nearly 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix a spate of problems, including air bags that might not inflate. It's part of a worldwide recall of 6.4 million cars and trucks.

So far this year, automakers have recalled about 9 million vehicles in the U.S. If that pace continues, the nation would break the record of 30.8 million recalled vehicles set in 2004.

Most of the recalls are from Toyota and General Motors, two automakers that are under government scrutiny and facing bad publicity and allegations that they concealed safety issues.

Scroll through the gallery above for a look at vehicles that have been recalled this year, and click here for more on the latest recalls.